Unmasked My CEO Ex-Husband’s Regret novel Chapter 132

Elara watched the transfer go through on his phone before speaking again. "Now that Melody's issue is settled, let's talk about ours."

A bad premonition settled in Julian's chest. "What is it?"

"I don't entirely buy your explanation."

Elara cut straight to the chase. "I believe you have your own corporate strategies, but when it comes to you and Vivian... I can't accept what you just told me."

"Julian, we've known each other for over a decade. We know exactly how the other operates."

"If you truly had zero interest in a woman—even if she was the Winthrop heiress and crucial to your plans—you would have found a flawless way to handle it. Instead, you chose the worst possible method."

"You're fiercely competitive. You demand perfection and hate being criticized. Yet, for Vivian Winthrop, you willingly destroyed the perfect public image you've spent years building. You hurt Melody. You even threw away your precious 'good father' persona."

Elara paused, locking eyes with him. "With all of that on the table, you expect me to believe there's nothing going on between you and Vivian?"

"I don't believe it."

Julian didn't deny it, nor did he try to argue. "Then what do you want me to do to prove it?"

That was exactly what Elara had been waiting for. She spoke slowly and deliberately. "I want shares in Ark Solutions."

"What?"

Julian stared at her in sheer disbelief. It took everything in him to swallow down the urge to snap, 'Don't push your luck, Elara.'

"Why the sudden interest in shares?"

His face went pale, then flushed with suppressed anger. Fortunately, Elara hadn't turned on the main kitchen lights, hiding his furious expression. "You never cared about this stuff before."

"That's because you used to be trustworthy."

Julian's temper cooled instantly at the mention of a legal contract.

No matter how long Elara had been out of the workforce as a stay-at-home mom, she had once been a ruthless top-tier attorney. She was sharper and more sensitive to the law than he would ever be.

"I can't just agree to that on the spot."

Banking on her presumed ignorance of corporate operations, Julian lied smoothly. "The company is preparing for an IPO. Any major equity changes right now could derail the approval process."

"Even if I wanted to give you shares at this crucial juncture, I couldn't transfer much. The other shareholders wouldn't allow it."

"Ark Solutions only has three shareholders. If I remember correctly, you hold over eighty percent of the equity. You have absolute veto power."

Elara was unrelenting. "Besides, I made significant contributions during Ark's startup phase. I'm certain Leo and the others would gladly approve the transfer to me."